VANCOUVER – Premier Gordon
Campbell today called on all British Columbians to take an active role in helping
to shape the future of the health system by joining the Conversation on Health.
These historic provincewide conversations will ensure that, within the
framework of the Canada Health Act, needed programs and services are there for
generations to come.

calling
the toll-free Conversation on Health line at 1-866-884-2055 (translation
in 130 languages available), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This fall, front line health-care
workers, administrators, associations, other organizations, First Nations
groups and academics will discuss their views during the process. Regional
forums for the public in each of the 16 health service delivery areas will
start in early November and end next summer. Funding will be provided to help
offset the costs of travel for people who need assistance.

“More people are moving to the
province and our population is aging. Couple this with tremendous yet costly
advances in surgical procedures, diagnostic technology and pharmaceutical
therapies, and we have very different pressures on our health system today than
we had even a decade ago,” said Campbell. “In this dynamic environment, we need
to ensure that our health programs are responsive to the needs of our citizens
today and tomorrow.”

The health budget represents 42
percent of the Province’s annual budget. If the health budget continues to grow
as it has in the past, it could consume over 70 percent of the total provincial
budget by 2017. This could squeeze out necessary funding for other critical
government services such as education, highways and social services.

A
provincial congress on health will be held on Oct. 10. MLAs, MPs, mayors of
major municipalities and First Nations leaders will have a chance to participate.
Their input will be forwarded to the Conversation on Health project.